# NTSB LAX93LA048: Rans S-10 Sakota, N821DR, San Jose, CA, November 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1992, 14:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Location: 37.3212° N, 121.8305° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from REID-HILLVIEW OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY (RHV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3212&lon=-121.8305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27870/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA048

## Probable cause

1) THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASON(S), AND, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRSPEED ABOVE THE POWER OFF STALL SPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.  A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL/SPIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE CONTROL TOWER LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REPORT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNING TO LAND.  THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY.  WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT ENTERED A 'TIGHT' RIGHT TURN AND THEN ENTERED A STALL/SPIN.  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXPLODED.  AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, DETERMINED ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE INTACT, OPERABLE, AND WORKING CORRECTLY.  DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N821DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N821DR-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 0990115 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RANS S-10 SAKOTA (S-10 SAKOT)
- Registry model: [Goetowski Charles R RANS S-10 SAKOTA](https://openairdocs.org/model/goetowski-charles-r-rans-s-10-sakota) (registry code 05618DT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0990115
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Charles R. Goetowski
- Registered owner: Charles R. Goetowski
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: RHV
- Destination: 3O7, HOLLISTER, CA
- Airport: RHV, Reid-Hillview, runway 31, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 150 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RHV, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19921121047499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921121047499A), Nov 21, 1992: Amtr S10, San Jose, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Reported engine problem on climbout. Made tight turn to return. Stalled and spun in. Prior contaminated carburetor.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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